(CNN) - It's no coincidence President Obama has traveled to key swing states to push his massive stimulus measure, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Sunday.

Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said Obama's recent travel is an indication that the new president is already running for reelection.

"He's going to those places for a reason," Barbour said on CNN's State of the Union. "I mean David Axelrod, who's his campaign consultant/manager/guru really is one of the brightest, most capable people in American politics. And so this is what we've become accustomed to, the perpetual campaign."

In the last few weeks, the president has visited Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and Colorado - all states that voted Republican in the 2004 presidential election but flipped to the Democrat's side in 2008. Obama has also visited Arizona - the home state of his former rival, Sen. John McCain, and a state he'd like to turn blue in 2012.

The White House has said the president specifically visited those states because they are among the hardest hit by the nations sputtering economy and home foreclosure crisis.

soundoff(275 Responses)

SJ Johnson

King Obama? Pat you need to get back on your medication...Soon!

February 22, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |

BJ

If Obama would park AirForce One for a while and stay home to do his job it might help a bit. If people can't see through all this posturing and these photo OPs to make himself look better, then you're much in need of a wake up call. I'm willing to give Obama a chance, but so far he's done just about everything wrong (in my humble opinion). He appears to be in payback mode for everyone that voted for him,
Building a high speed train for Reid, saving a swamp for Pellosi, gutting the welfare reform act to satisfy all the first time voters he recruited etc..............

February 22, 2009 11:46 am at 11:46 am |

The Truth

His perpetual campaign mode was always the plan. Obama is not running the show. The plan always was that the true powers would get him elected and his role would be as the puppet to go around, give speeches and stay out of the way. He has no clue what is actually being decided upon until after the fact.

February 22, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Russ

We will have turned a corner when...and if....David Letterman and Hollywood turn on Obama. As of now he is the "Golden Child" – even as he spends, and spends, annd spends. It will be interesting to see the 2010 Academy Awards (2009 awards are still off limits). Will there be any "Obama bashing". I feel sorry for this country's liberal press. Where will they place ANY blame. Certain not at the feet of a Democratic President OR Congress !!!!

February 22, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Scott

Pat- Gosh, you read my mind perfectly!! Couldn't agree with you more! King Obama will rule forever, turning America into a Socialist state, or even worse, an even bigger group of mindless Stepford Wives. During his campaign, he kept raving on and on about sending jobs overseas.. but they're still going! THAT should have been his first priority, instead of using his red Princess phone to call HAMAS.

February 22, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Had It

Hmmmm – Me-thinks the republicans are feeling paranoid.

I believe Pres. Obama is FOR the USA, not just against the republicans.

February 22, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Bruce

If it comes out of a REPUBLICAN mouth who gives a rats A$$

February 22, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Erik

Tax and spend as usual, only this time we opened the bank account up and let him spend a trillion dollars in one of the most wasteful fasions he could. Obama needs to continue campaigning right up to the next election because if he does not, his lies and BS will be exposed. He mesmerizes people with his speeches of promise and hope only to let them down when the rubber hits the road. He is visiting the states he visited because he stole those red states with his lies and promises that he will never be able to keep. After all the promises, those states now realize they made a huge error in voting for him so he must kiss their lilly white butts to try and keep them in the blue column. Just a few of the promises broken by Obama? Lets talk about the tax cheats he tried to put on his cabinet, lets talk about the lobbyists that he is making exceptions and exemptions for. Obama built his empire on lies and false promise and it is upon this that his "Kingdom" will crumble prior to even having an opportunity to be re-elected. Good luck Obama Bin Lyin.

February 22, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

ja

the few GOP governors that oppose President Obama's stimulus, don't have a clue, if they give up the perks salaries free lunches outings, or even incomes, the stimulus bill would make sense, they are not suffering and will not due to connections, he should travel from Washington's hostile environment, suddenly the GOP is brilliant, after eight years of head in the sand, we wasted trillions of dollars and many lives on the so-called war on terrorism, and it must continue
,

February 22, 2009 11:48 am at 11:48 am |

Steve

Every president work a darn has to continually sell his agenda. Obama is no exception. President Bush rarely communicated with the people, except to try to scare us (which only worked in the beginning). Look where it got him. He became detached from the people and reality, and as a result left office with the worst approval ratings in history.

Obama knows that the message needs to get out there. Slightly less than 1/2 of this country didn't vote for him, and is still skeptical. Trying to adopt the attitude of American Royalty, as Bush did, will get him in serious trouble.

February 22, 2009 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

a good read

I read Ed Wallaces article every Sunday in the Star Telegram for the truth about what happened on 9/16,the day stock market almost went into a complete meltdown.He isnt a partisan,he just presents the facts,something sorely missed in todays world.He has articles in Business Week online also.

February 22, 2009 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

olady

Am I missing something? I didn't see anything derogatory about Obama in this story. Seems the Governor is only stating political strategy and commended Axelrod. Does everything have to be a fight between Dem and Rep?

February 22, 2009 11:50 am at 11:50 am |

William

Obama is not campaigning for re-election, he does not have to. However, he is taking his plans for recovery to the base and also listening to what others have to say. The Republicans have gotten off to a terrible start, they are not willing to sit at the table and talk unless their terms and only their terms are going to be the policies. They are like spoiled children fighting over toys, children who screem and yell when things do not go their way. You realize, it is their policies that got us in the mess that we are in and now we have some very intelligent people who are trying to dig us out. It is time the Republicans worked with the Democrats and quit being cry babies. I think the press has been unusually hard on the president in his first 100 days – they are not willing to give the man a chance. It is time we all show confidence in our President, his strong (and intelligent) cabinet and advisors. Let's give them a chance!

February 22, 2009 11:50 am at 11:50 am |

JN

REPUBLICANS are being nothing less than OBSTRUCTIONISTS. THEY and BUSH got us into this mess and all they do is criticize this new administration and its' decisions. Where was there good reasoning and mature voices during in the last 8 years? HYPOCRITES!

They lost the election–the people voted them out- and they still feel they should be the primary voice on issues. That is not the way a democracy works. Bipartisanship takes two.

February 22, 2009 11:50 am at 11:50 am |

chris

He has to be in order to put out the truth, after all there are plenty of lies being put out by the GOP.

THE REPUBLICANS COULD KEEP ON DREAMING WHILE THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNING HAS STARTED. GO DEMS GO AND TURN ALL RED STATES BLUE.

February 22, 2009 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

N-Mar 718

Let's face it. No matter what the contents of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had, The GOP was going t ovote for it anyway. They prolonged the inevitable with useless politics.

February 22, 2009 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

SJ Johnson

Look at our economic dilemma now....Larry.....Repbulicans got us here.....that's the definition of foolish. In fact the use of the word Republican has become foolish. Just listen to the news media. We all know how foolish they are. Are you from Mississippi too?

February 22, 2009 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

Simmy

Gov. Barbour, like many other Republicans are famous for turning their foibles on Democrats "and so this is what we've"( Democrats)" become accustomed to," their (Republicans') "perpetual campaign."

President Obama is smart, in that he realizes that he must rise to the occasion, and thwart them on every side, since they and their 527's are determined to continue campaigning annually. They know that they don't stand a chance in 2012, and that it behooves them to keep themselves in the spotlight – however dim it may be.

February 22, 2009 11:52 am at 11:52 am |

chuck tulsa

Please, will the media ask any Republican that opens their mouth about this subject this one question, “Other than tax cuts; which helped us get into this mess, what are YOUR solutions?”

The Republicans then would have to quit talking, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING.

Way to go Got nO Plan party……………..

February 22, 2009 11:52 am at 11:52 am |

cmoore

No, it means Americans aren't buying these wasteful policies.

February 22, 2009 11:52 am at 11:52 am |

Only in America

Balbour, Jindal, Keys, Steele, Sanford, Perry and the rest of the GOP who is still in denial, should all be put into a basket and set afloat into the Atlantic to drift away.

Obama won fair and square! Now get over it already!

February 22, 2009 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

Karen

It is refreshing to see someone working for the people...honestly, do you think President Obama wants to be flying from place to place to clean up the mess of a previouly failed administration. No he would much more prefer to manage the federal government but what choice does he have? If he sits in the pretty office, looking great and talking nothing but rhetoric, I would be upset as would many of his voters because that is what we voted against...We want different, we want proactive, we want caring for the people, management of the country, we want Mr. Obama doing just what he does best, making good decisions, talking to us and being our wonderful President...We love Mr. Obama, get over it!

February 22, 2009 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

N-Mar 718

Correction, the GOP wasn't voting for the Stimulus bill anyway no matter what it said

February 22, 2009 11:53 am at 11:53 am |

Less campaigning and more leadership needed

If Obama would stop worrying about elections and start leading the country we'd be in better shape. He was too busy planning events to write the stimulus package so he gave it to Pelosi, and it is a disaster. He did not take the time to vet his cabinet and half the nominees withdrew; he still has two openings; and several of his picks are just plain corrupt. He makes popular speeches and popular announcements (like Guantanamo) without solving the problem.